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Reliquary

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Reliquary

Date:
ca. 1175–1200 (rock crystal) with early 19th century setting
Geography:
Made in France (?)
Culture:
French (?)
Medium:
Gilded copper, rock crystal, glass, and parchment
Dimensions:
Overall: 13 7/8 x 12 5/8 x 6 1/4 in. (35.2 x 32.1 x 15.8 cm) Rock Crystal: 3 1/16 x 8 11/16 x 3 1/16 in. (7.8 x 22 x 7.8 cm)
Classification:
Metalwork
Credit Line:
Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917
Accession Number:
17.190.813

This artwork is currently on display in Gallery 306

  • Description

    The core of this opulent reliquary contains a large late twelfth-century rock crystal with engraved vine scroll patterns from the Meuse Valley (present-day Belgium). It was said to have once held relics of Saints Margaret, Philip the Apostle, and Catherine as well as of Bishop Valerius. The present neo-Gothic setting may reflect the original reliquary form.

  • Provenance

    comte Clément Wenceslas de Renesse-Breidbach (d. 1833), Belgium (sold 1836); Louis-Fidel Debruge-Duménil, Paris (sold 1849); Prince Peter Soltykoff, Paris (1849–sold 1861); Baron Achille Sellière, Paris (1861–sold 1890); Baron Albert Oppenheim, Cologne(1890–1906?); J. Pierpont Morgan, London and New York (1906–1913); Estate of J. Pierpont Morgan(1913–1917)

  • See also
    What
    Where
    In the Museum
    Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History
170004577:4

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